Good Monday morning,
1. Highlights on UHN's Essentials
UHN's Essentials are essential to the work we do as a leading academic health sciences centre – hence the name!
Read here to learn more. Below, you'll find highlights on UHN's Essentials from last week.
People and Culture How to deliver the "perfect" elevator pitch: When we're operating above 115% capacity, research and education are susceptible to backburner status. So I'm always thrilled to see initiatives that keep the spirit of scholarship alive and well at UHN. Last week, trainees from the Krembil Research Institute took part in the "Pitch Perfect Competition" and presented a 3-minute elevator pitch about their research to a panel of UHN Public Affairs judges. When we have great ideas, it's important to have the ability to share them concisely and in a compelling way. Congratulations to the competition's winners: Akihiro Nakamura, Zoya Qaiyum and Imindu Liyanage. If you'd appreciate some tips,
watch this video on delivering a perfect pitch with my charismatic co-star Grace Ivo and other Krembil colleagues including Don Weaver. Don't worry Don, I'll ask Grace to set up that meeting…
Environments Flooding at Toronto Western (TW) 3rd floor Fell Pavilion due to a leak in the roof: Another sign that TW's infrastructure is in need of critical attention ASAP. Thanks to our colleagues in FM-PRO (Facilities Management – Planning, Redevelopment and Operations) who are working with our insurance provider and contractors to make the repairs. The building's roof – which is 25 years old – is part of our deferred maintenance plan and scheduled to be replaced this summer, though we are hoping to expedite this timeline given this event. In a separate incident, another leak came from drain pipes and made its way into TW's ICU. The FM-PRO team is working to resolve the issue and with our Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) colleagues to minimize impact to staff and patient care. And, floods also occurred at Toronto General's Core Lab. What a week for our infrastructure. UHN's Board Retreat is this week and I will be raising these issues.
Technology / Operational Excellence Making complex aneurysm treatment safer and more cost effective with new technology – and a world first!: Last week, UHN's Neurointerventional team, part of our Joint Department of Medical Imaging, treated five patients with Stryker's new Surpass Evolve Flow Diverter at Toronto Western. This is the first use of this technology in the world! Currently, best practice may require the placement of multiple stents to restore the normal flow of blood, adding additional risk to the patient and cost to the health system. The hope with this technology is to safely perform these procedures with only one stent regardless of the aneurysm's complexity, reducing risk and cost. Congratulations to Vitor Pereira, Timo Krings and the entire Neurointerventional team.
People and Culture Update on UHN's committee of next generation leaders – also known as our upcoming Strategy Forum: We had an overwhelming response to our request for Strategy Forum candidates – more than 150 applications! Thrilled to see so many people passionate about delivering A Healthier World and our Strategic Plan. The next step is to determine what backgrounds and experiences we'd like to see in this forum, so we're asking a committee of frontline staff to inform our decision making. We'll send an update to everyone once the people are selected.
2. The rare sign of an exceptional leader: Treating everyone as valued human beings.
Last week,
I shared this article on Twitter about the definition of a true leader and received many responses, so I thought I'd highlight it my weekly update too. One line from the article that strikes me – As a leader, you have an enormous responsibility to take care of people. I think it's easy to forget that when you're busy and in a high-performing environment. So, if you're aspiring to be an exceptional leader – whether in an official capacity or leading from where you stand – treating everyone with care and respect is essential. Let's hold each other accountable and walk the walk at UHN.
3. Leading (change) from where you stand: Attending Princess Margaret's annual retreat
It was a pleasure stepping outside of the office on Friday morning to attend Princess Margaret's retreat, the theme being "What's your Change-Ability?". No surprise, we talked about healthcare in Ontario and the changing landscape but there was another topic that generated some unexpected buzz: the intergenerational workforce. A significant change that all organizations are facing! During the presentation, I asked the Baby Boomers, Gen X-ers and Millennials to identify themselves with raised hands. I counted about five baby boomers, many Gen X-ers and even more Millennials, who make up the fastest growing part of the workforce. It makes me think about how we serve TeamUHN. If we're tailoring our organizational design around Baby Boomers, we are unlikely to find a recipe for success.
Have a good week,
Kevin
